Frederick Kumi, a Ghanaian social media influencer also known as Abu Trica, has been extradited to the United States to face trial for allegedly orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8 million. Kumi denies all charges.
Prosecutors allege that Kumi utilized artificial intelligence tools to create fabricated online personas. These fake identities were used to target victims on social media and dating platforms, where he allegedly built trust before extorting money. Kumi was transported to the U.S. on Thursday and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Kumi's lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, stated that he attempted to halt the extradition in court on Thursday, only to discover later that Kumi had already departed on a Delta Airlines flight. Barker-Vormawor has accused Ghana's government of bypassing judicial oversight by allegedly not awaiting the court's ruling, raising "profound constitutional questions" about the extradition process. The Ghanaian government has not yet issued a statement on the matter.
Kumi, who amassed over 100,000 Instagram followers, frequently showcased luxury items online, which his lawyer noted had raised suspicions about the origins of his wealth. US prosecutors claim that victims were engaged in frequent and intimate conversations, eventually leading to requests for money or valuables under false pretenses. These pretexts often involved fabricated urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. The funds or valuables were then reportedly funneled to co-conspirators, acting as intermediaries, who allegedly distributed them to associates in both the U.S. and Ghana.
Kumi, originally from the town of Swedru in southern Ghana, was apprehended last year during a joint operation involving Ghanaian and U.S. authorities. There is a discrepancy regarding Kumi's age; his lawyer states he is 28, while U.S. prosecutors report he is 31.
The case is being prosecuted under the U.S. Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act. In recent months, U.S. authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the U.S. and West Africa that target elderly Americans. This extradition follows other recent cases, including that of Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, a Ghanaian fraudster popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, who pleaded guilty in the U.S. last week for employing romance and inheritance schemes against Americans. In December, a Nigerian national, Oluwaseun Adekoya, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for laundering over $2 million as the ringleader of nationwide bank fraud and money-laundering conspiracies.